When the cold winds blow it's time for soup...

When tonight's wind chill drops to -25 below, I'll be cuddling up to a thick bowl of split pea and ham soup.

This thick, delicious, very filling soup not only will make your kitchen smell irrestistable, it is so easy that it practically makes itself!

1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 large onion
2 cloves garlic- minced
2 carrots- diced
2 stalks of celery
1 large potato diced
1 lb. ham diced
8 c chicken stock
1 lb. bag dried split peas
1 bay leaf
pepper

Rinse peas.

While they drain, heat oil in large dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.

Add onion and cook until just tender.

Stir in garlic and ham and cook for 2 minutes.

Add chicken stock, peas and bay leaf.

Pepper to taste. (I don't add salt because the ham has more than enough in it)

Cook over low-medium heat for 1 1/2 hours stirring occasionally.

Add the carrots, celery and potato and cook for 45 min more until the veggies are tender.

Remove (and compost) the bay leaf , ladle up and be happy!!